Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 7:1-19; Matthew 10:1-23

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of them Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 10:5-7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It seems that every Christian knows of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. We are given the command to "go." We are given the baptismal formula, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." However, there is an often-overlooked Greek word in that sentence. The word ethni is most often translated as "nations," yet in this context, the word "Gentiles" is a better option. Why? It simply puts a bookend on the first commission found in our text in verse 5.

It can sometimes be hard to wrap our minds around the idea that Christ became flesh to first go to the chosen people of Israel. It is from the house of Israel that the Law and prophets came. Even all the prophetic texts about Christ in the Old Testament came from the Jews. So it is good, right, and salutary that Christ would send out His disciples to go to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Perhaps our first reaction is to say, "Hey, that's not fair." Why would Jesus say, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans" (Matthew 10:5)? To be honest, that's what makes Matthew 28 and the translation of ethni so unique and important.

The beautiful thing about the Great Commission is that it is on the other side of the Cross and resurrection of Jesus. In His sacrifice, Christ was lifted up and has drawn all men unto Himself. We, who are Gentiles, are not separated from God, but have been ransomed at a price and that price is the blessed blood of Jesus Christ. Christ has washed us, feeds us, and teaches us through the mouths and hands of His pastors. We are the sheep who were not lost, but have been rescued from the sin, death, and the devil. Thanks be to God. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Not all the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain,
could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away the stain.
But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb, takes all our sins away,
a sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.
("Not All the Blood of Beasts" LSB 431, st. 1, 2)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch